Ministry of Science & Technology
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Fifth India International Science Festival on Tuesday
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Fifth India International Science Festival by addressing the audience at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Kolkata through video conference on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 4:00 PM.
The four-day science festival is being organized in Kolkata from November 5 to November 8, 2019. The prime objective of the festival is to instill scientific temper among the masses, showcase India’s contribution in the field of S&T over the years and encourage translation of its benefits to people. It aims to build a strategy for inclusive advancement of Science and Technology.
The Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan, along with several other Cabinet Ministers & State S&T Ministers, dignitaries, scientists, academicians and government officials will be part of the 4-day celebration of science.
About IISF 2019
India International Science Festival  2019, an annual event organised jointly by science and technology related Ministries and Departments of the Government of India and Vijnana Bharati , is being held in Kolkata this year. This is the fifth edition since its inception in 2015 and will take place during November 5th – 8th, 2019. IISF-2019 is a festival to celebrate the achievements of India’s scientific and technological advancements with students, innovators, craftsmen, farmers, scientists and technocrats from India and abroad. Thus, the theme for this year’s festival is RISEN India – Research, Innovation, and Science Empowering the Nation.
IISF is perhaps the biggest platform in the country to bring together students, researchers, innovators, artists, and the general public to celebrate India’s achievements in science and technology. IISF is also an attempt to encourage young minds towards the field of science and to promote networking of stakeholders working towards the propagation of science. IISF-2019 expects to host a gathering of approximately 12,000 participants from India and abroad. Biswa Bangla Convention Centre and Science City in Kolkata will be the prime sites for the events at IISF 2019. Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Bose Institute and Indian Institute of Chemical Biology will be sites for a few other events during the festival.
IISF-2019 will host more than 28 different events during this period. Besides detailed information available on www.scienceindiafest.org, here is a snapshot of some significant events.
For school students, a Students Science Village has been planned at IISF-2019 where more than 2,500 school students from all over the nation have been invited. Under the Pradhan Mantri Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, every Member of Parliament has been asked to nominate five students each along with their teacher from their constituency for the village. In six different houses named after our scientists, these students will be engaged in several science-fun activities and interact with scientists and technocrats.
Young Scientists’ Conference is another big event in terms of variety and number of participants where 1,500 young scientists and researchers will interact with various subject matter experts of international repute and also get a chance to present their posters and papers.
A vast exhibition of India’s Scientific & Technological prowess will be on display through several expos – most prominent being the Science Expo at Science City. New age Technology show and an expo for the differently abled  will be yet another one. A book fair has also been planned at BBCC.
Vigyanika Science Literature Festival will be another highlight of this year’s IISF where several programmes related to the various genre have been organised.
For media, there’s a two-day S&T media conclave that has been planned too. This shall be organised at the Bose Institute’s new campus in the Salt Lake area.
The special role of Women Scientists and Entrepreneurs in shaping the scientific growth trajectory will be another highlight of this Festival. The programme  aspires to develop new entrepreneurship and explore new vistas of opportunities in the field of science and technology among women. Approximately 700 women scientists/entrepreneurs will attend the event.
List of Events at IISF-2019:
- Agricultural Scientists’ Meet
- Assistive Technologies Conclave & Expo for Divyangjan
- Face-to-Face Meet with New Frontiers in Science
- Global Indian Scientists’ & Technocrats’ Meet
- Guinness World Record
- Health Research Conclave
- Industry Academia Conclave
- International Science Film Festival of India
- Mega Science, Technology & Industry Expo
- National Science Teachers’ Congress
- National Social Organisations & Institution Meet
- National Start-up Conclave
- Nav Bharat Nirman
- New Age Technology Show
- North-East Science Students’ Meet
- Outreach Programme & Satellite Communication Event
- Overseas Minister & Diplomats Conclave
- Science & Technology Media Conclave
- State S&T Ministers Conclave
- Students’ Engineering Model Competition
- Students’ Science Village
- Traditional Crafts & Artisan Meet & Expo
- Vigyan Samagam
- Vigyan Yatra
- Vigyanika – International Science Literature Festival
- Wellness Conclave & Expo
- Women Scientists & Entrepreneur Conclave
- Young Scientists Conference
- Peek into the past
IISF through the years
IISF 2015: Venue: IIT-Delhi, New Delhi. Nodal Agency: DST
IISF 2016: Venue: CSIR-NPL, New Delhi. Nodal Agency: CSIR
IISF 2017: Venue: IIT-Madras, Anna University & NIOT, Chennai. Nodal Agency: MoES
IISF 2018: Venue: Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow, Nodal Agency: DBT
For IISF 2019 – Venues: BBCC & Science City, Kolkata, Nodal Agency: DST
Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organisation of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, is the nodal agency to coordinate the IISF 2019. www.vigyanprasar.gov.in
List of other supporting agencies: MoES, CSIR, DBT, ISRO, DAE, DRDO, MNRE, ICAR, MoEF, ICMR, MoRD, AICTE and SRFTI.
About Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India
The Department of Science and Technology  is a department within the Ministry of Science and Technology in India. It was established in May 1971 to promote new areas of science and technology and to play the role of a nodal department for organising, coordinating and promoting scientific and technological activities in the country. It provides funds to various approved scientific projects in India. It also supports various researchers in India to attend conferences abroad and to go for experimental works.
About Vijnana Bharati
Vijnana Bharati or VIBHA, previously known as ‘Swadeshi Science Movement’ is a non-profit organisation, working for science popularization & implementation of modern technology & ancient sciences in India. It was founded by the eminent scientists of Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru led by Prof. K.I. Vasu.
About Vigyan Prasar
Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organisation of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, was set up in 1989 to take on large-scale science and technology popularisation programmes. Vigyan Prasar’s mandate is to promote and propagate - as widely as possible - a scientific and rational outlook in society. Its broad objectives include undertaking, promoting and co-ordinating science popularization programmes and inculcation of scientific temper among the people. It’s also responsible for the development of software for various media - audio, visual, audio-visual & print and different modes of communication to enable the masses to understand, appreciate and comprehend scientific principles and practices.